Lists of tasks

Way back in 2009, Ryan and I decided to start a blog chronicling the various projects we worked on. It was supposed to be something for us, a way to keep track of the things we made (or broke), and the various repairs we did to our house. And of course, once we decide to do something, we do it, albeit at our own pace. So, once the decision was made, we created this blog.

It is now 2012, and I am writing the first entry. Maybe the second entry will come in around 2o14. Or maybe we really will follow through on this.

Since registering the blog name, a lot of things have changed: we closed our photography business, we had a baby, and one of us graduated from law school, took the bar exam, and found herself unemployed. Meanwhile, we completed a lot of projects.

Here's a short list of things we've done to the house since purchasing it in November 2008:

1. Painted all the rooms but the hallway (that's pending).

2. Ripped the wood paneling out of the living room.

3. Replaced the shoddy single pane windows next to the fireplace with glass blocks.

4. Built bookshelves.

5. Removed the gas fireplace insert (that could only be turned on/off by reaching into the fire).

6. Added a chair rail around the wall in the front bedroom.

7. Added crown molding to the back bedroom.

8. Completely tore out and rebuilt the wood-paneled Arizona room.

9. Had a concrete patio poured.

10. Built a water-harvesting system.

11. Built a shed/workshop in the backyard (interior still not complete)

12. Graveled backyard.

13. Built raised bed gardens and planted fruit trees.

14. Removed several trees, notably allergens and a mostly dead mulberry.

I guess those are the big ones, though there have been lots of smaller projects too. Not a bad list, while juggling law school and a baby. Here's a list of what we plan to do in the semi-near future:

1. Re-paint the top half of the front bedroom in a brighter color.

2. Add stenciled designs to the bottom half of the front bedroom.

3. Replace or paint the ceiling fan in the living room.

4. Replace all the kitchen lights and dining area light.

5. Completely re-do the hallway (the only area that hasn't been touched yet).

6. Build in-wall shelves in bathroom.

7. Finish pounding nails in crown molding in rear bedroom.

8. Curtains for rear bedroom.

9. Blackout shades for both bedrooms (and then maybe the baby will nap).

10. Fence the backyard (there is a fence, but it is entirely supported by a neighbors tree).

11. Paint the bomb shelter lid.

12. Refinish the baby's dresser.

13. Refinish the table by the front door ($25 at a thrift store - excellent bargain).

14. Refinish the picnic table.

15. Extend water harvesting to back of shed and Arizona room.

16. Build outdoor table.

That's a lot. Here are our projects that we are currently working on:

1. Baby's play kitchen.

2. Living room curtains.

3. Carbon fiber bike light (that's all Ryan).

4. Two living room pillows.

5. Reorganizing shelving in Arizona room.

We're a bit spastic. We'll start something, get it mostly done, then wander off and work on something else. But we're trying. And maybe we'll try to post here to keep us accountable.